PDF Transcript

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you
start taking this medicine because it contains
important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your
doctor or pharmacist.

• This medicine has been prescribed for you only.
Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them,
even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or
pharmacist. This includes any possible side
effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet
1. What Olmetec Plus is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Olmetec Plus
3. How to take Olmetec Plus
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Olmetec Plus
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Olmetec Plus is and what it is used for
Olmetec Plus contains two active substances,
olmesartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide,
that are used to treat high blood pressure
(hypertension):
• Olmesartan medoxomil is one of a group of
medicines called angiotensin II-receptor
antagonists. It lowers blood pressure by
relaxing the blood vessels.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is one of a group of
medicines called thiazide diuretics (“water
tablets”). It lowers blood pressure by helping
the body to get rid of extra fluid by making your
kidneys produce more urine.
You will only be given Olmetec Plus if Olmetec
(olmesartan medoxomil) alone has not adequately
controlled your blood pressure. When given
together, the two active substances in Olmetec
Plus help to lower blood pressure more than if
either of them were given alone.
You may already be taking medicines to treat your
high blood pressure, but your doctor may want
you to take Olmetec Plus to lower it more.
High blood pressure can be controlled with
medicines such as Olmetec Plus tablets. Your
doctor has probably also recommended that
you make some changes in your lifestyle to help
lower your blood pressure (for example losing
weight, giving up smoking, reducing the amount
of alcohol you drink and reducing the amount of
salt in your diet). Your doctor may also have
urged you to take regular exercise, such as
walking or swimming. It is important to follow
this advice from your doctor.

2. What you need to know before you take
Olmetec Plus
Do not take Olmetec Plus:
• if you are allergic to olmesartan medoxomil or
hydrochlorothiazide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
or substances similar to hydrochlorothiazide
(sulfonamides)
• if you are more than 3 months pregnant. (It is
also better to avoid Olmetec Plus in early pregnancy – see pregnancy section.)
• if you have severe kidney problems
• if you have diabetes or impaired kidney function
and you are treated with a blood pressure
lowering medicine containing aliskiren
• if you suffer from low potassium, low sodium,
high calcium or high uric acid levels in the blood
(with symptoms of gout or kidney stones) that do
not get better when treated
• if you suffer from severe liver problems or yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) or problems with drainage of the bile from the gallbladder (biliary obstruction e.g. gallstones).
If you think any of these apply to you, or you
are unsure, do not take the tablets. Talk to your
doctor first and follow the advice given.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before using Olmetec Plus.
Before you take the tablets, tell your doctor if
you are taking any of the following medicines
used to treat high blood pressure:
• an ACE-inhibitor (for example enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), in particular if you have diabetesrelated kidney problems.
• aliskiren
Your doctor may check your kidney function,
blood pressure, and the amount of electrolytes
(e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals.
See also information under the heading “Do not
take Olmetec Plus”.
Before you take the tablets, tell your doctor if
you have any of the following health problems:
• Mild to moderate kidney problems or if you have
had a recent kidney transplant
• Liver diseases
• Heart failure or problems with your heart valves
or heart muscles
• Vomiting (being sick) or diarrhoea which is
severe or it goes on for several days
• Treatment with high doses of water tablets
(diuretics) or if you are on a low salt diet
• Problems with your adrenal glands (e.g. primary
aldosteronism)
• Diabetes
• Lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease)
• Allergies or asthma.
Contact your doctor if you experience any of the
following symptoms:
• diarrhoea that is severe, persistent and causes
substantial weight loss. Your doctor may evaluate
your symptoms and decide on how to continue
your blood pressure medication.
• decrease in vision or eye pain. These could be
symptoms of an increase of pressure in your eye
and can happen within hours to weeks of taking
Olmetec Plus. This can lead to permanent vision
impairment, if not treated.
Your doctor may want to see you more often
and do some tests if you have any of these
conditions.
Olmetec Plus may cause a rise in blood fat
levels and uric acid levels (the cause of gout –
painful swelling of the joints). Your doctor will
probably want to do a blood test from time to time
to check these.
It may change the levels of certain chemicals in
your blood called electrolytes. Your doctor will
probably want to do a blood test from time to time to
check these. Signs of electrolyte changes
are: thirst, dryness of the mouth, muscle pain or
cramps, tired muscles, low blood pressure
(hypotension), feeling weak, sluggish, tired,
sleepy or restless, nausea, vomiting, less need to
pass urine, a rapid heart rate. Tell your doctor if
you notice these symptoms.
As with any medicine which reduces blood
pressure, an excessive drop in blood pressure in
patients with blood flow disturbances of the

heart or brain could lead to a heart attack or
stroke. Your doctor will therefore check your
blood pressure carefully.
If you are due to have tests for parathyroid
function, you should stop taking Olmetec Plus
before these tests are carried out.
If you are a sports person, this medicine could
change the results of an anti-dope test to make it
positive.
You must tell your doctor if you think that you are
(or might become) pregnant. Olmetec Plus is not
recommended in early pregnancy, and must not
be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant,
as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used
at that stage (see pregnancy section).
Children and adolescents
Olmetec Plus is not recommended for children
and adolescents under the age of 18.
Other medicines and Olmetec Plus
Tell your doctor or pharmacist (chemist) if you are
using, have recently used or might use any other
medicines.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist about
any of the following:
• Other blood pressure lowering medicines (antihypertensives), as the effect of Olmetec Plus
can be increased.
• Your doctor may need to change your dose
and/or to take other precautions:
• If you are taking an ACE-inhibitor or aliskiren (see
also information under the headings “Do not take
Olmetec Plus” and “Warnings and precautions”).
• Medicines which may alter the levels of
potassium in your blood if used at the same
time as Olmetec Plus. These include:
– potassium supplements (as well as salt
substitutes containing potassium)
– water tablets (diuretics)
– heparin (for thinning the blood)
– laxatives
– steroids
– adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
– carbenoxolone (a medicine used to treat
mouth and stomach ulcers)
– penicillin G sodium (also called benzylpenicillin
sodium, an antibiotic)
– certain pain killers such as aspirin or
salicylates
• Lithium (a medicine used to treat mood swings
and some types of depression) used at the
same time as Olmetec Plus may increase the
toxicity of lithium. If you have to take lithium, your
doctor will measure your lithium blood levels.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs)
medicines (medicines used to relieve pain,
swelling and other symptoms of inflammation,
including arthritis) used at the same time as
Olmetec Plus may increase the risk of kidney
failure and the effect of Olmetec Plus can be
decreased by NSAIDs.
• Sleeping tablets, sedatives and anti-depressant
medicines, as using these medicines together
with Olmetec Plus may cause a sudden drop in
blood pressure when standing up.
• Certain medicines such as baclofen and
tubocurarine, used to relax muscles.
• Amifostine and some other drugs used to
treat cancers, such as cyclophosphamide or
methotrexate.
• Colestyramine and colestipol, medicines for
lowering blood fat levels.
• Colesevelam hydrochloride, a drug that lowers
the level of cholesterol in your blood, as the
effect of Olmetec Plus may be decreased. Your
doctor may advise you to take Olmetec Plus at
least 4 hours before colesevelam hydrochloride.
• Anticholinergic agents, such as atropine and
biperiden.
• Drugs such as thioridazine, chlorpromazine,
levomepromazine, trifluoperazine, cyamemazine,
sulpiride, amisulpride, pimozide, sultopride,
tiapride, droperidol or haloperidol, used to treat
certain psychiatric disorders.
• Certain medicines such as quinidine,
hydroquinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone,
sotalol or digitalis, used to treat heart problems.
• Medicines such as mizolastine, pentamidine, terfenadine, dofetilide, ibutilide or erythromycin
injections, which may change the heart rhythm.
• Oral anti-diabetic medicines, such as metformin
or insulin, used to lower blood sugar.
• Beta-blockers and diazoxide, medicines used to
treat high blood pressure or low blood sugar,
respectively, as Olmetec Plus can enhance their
blood-sugar-increasing effect.
• Methyldopa, a medicine used to treat high blood
pressure.
• Medicines such as noradrenaline, used to
increase blood pressure and slow heart rate.
• Diphemanil, used to treat a slow heartbeat or
reduce sweating.
• Medicines such as probenecid, sulfinpyrazone
and allopurinol, used to treat gout.
• Calcium supplements.
• Amantadine, an anti-viral drug.
• Ciclosporin, a medicine used to stop rejection
of organ transplants.
• Certain antibiotics called tetracyclines or
sparfloxacin.
• Amphotericin, a medicine used to treat fungal
infections.
• Certain antacids, used to treat too much
stomach acid, such as aluminium magnesium
hydroxide, as the effect of Olmetec Plus can
be slightly decreased.
• Cisapride, used to increase food movement in
the stomach and gut.
• Halofantrine, used for malaria.
Olmetec Plus with food and drink
Olmetec Plus can be taken with or without food.
Take care when drinking alcohol while you are taking Olmetec Plus, as some people feel faint
or dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drink
any alcohol, including wine, beer or alcopops.
GB 114523

Black patients
As with other similar drugs the blood pressure
lowering effect of Olmetec Plus is somewhat less
in black patients.

Some changes in blood test results have also
been seen uncommonly and include:
Reduced numbers of a type of blood cell, known
as platelets (thrombocytopenia).

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Rare side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

Pregnancy

Impaired kidney function, lack of energy.

You must tell your doctor if you think that you are
(or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will
normally advise you to stop taking Olmetec Plus
before you become pregnant or as soon as you
know you are pregnant and will advise you to
take another medicine instead of Olmetec Plus.
Olmetec Plus is not recommended during
pregnancy, and must not be taken when more
than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious
harm to your baby if it is used after the third month
of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or
about to start breast-feeding. Olmetec Plus is not
recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding,
and your doctor may choose another treatment
for you if you wish to breast-feed.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you
may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby,
ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before
taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
You may feel sleepy or dizzy while being treated
for your high blood pressure. If this happens, do
not drive or use machines until the symptoms
wear off. Ask your doctor for advice.
Olmetec Plus contains lactose
This medicine contains lactose (a type of sugar).
If you have been told by your doctor that you
have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your
doctor before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Olmetec Plus
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor
has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is one Olmetec Plus
20 mg/12.5 mg tablet a day. However, if your
blood pressure is not controlled, your doctor may
decide to change your dose to one Olmetec Plus
20 mg/25 mg tablet a day.
Swallow the tablet with water. If possible, you
should take your dose at the same time
each day, for example at breakfast time. It is
important to continue to take Olmetec Plus until
your doctor tells you to stop.
If you take more Olmetec Plus than you should
If you take more tablets than you should, or if
a child accidentally swallows one or more, go to
your doctor or nearest accident and emergency
department immediately and take your medicine
pack with you.
If you forget to take Olmetec Plus

Some changes in blood test results have also
been seen rarely and include:
Increase blood potassium.
Hydrochlorothiazide:
Very common side effects
(may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Changes in blood results including: Increase in
blood fat and uric acid levels.
Common side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Feeling confused, abdominal pain, stomach upset,
bloated feeling, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting,
constipation, excretion of glucose into the urine.
Some changes in blood results have also been
seen and include:
Increase in blood creatinine, urea, calcium and
sugar levels, decrease in blood chloride, potassium, magnesium and sodium levels. Increase of
serum amylase (hyperamylasaemia).
Uncommon side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Decreased or loss of appetite, severe difficulty
breathing, anaphylactic skin reactions (hypersensitivity reactions), worsening of pre-existing
myopia, erythema, skin reactions to light, itching,
purplish spots or patches on the skin due to small
haemorrhages (purpura), skin lumps (wheals).
Rare side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Swollen and sore salivary glands, decreased
number of white blood cells, decreased number of
blood platelets, anaemia, bone marrow damage,
restlessness, feeling ‘down’ or depressed, problems sleeping, feeling uninterested (apathy),
tingling and numbness, fits (convulsions), objects
you look at appearing yellow, blurred vision, dry
eyes, irregular heartbeat, inflammation of the
blood vessels, blood clots (thrombosis or
embolism), inflammation of the lung, fluid accumulation in the lungs, inflammation of the
pancreas, jaundice, infection in the gall bladder,
symptoms of lupus erythematosus such as rash,
joint pains and cold hands and fingers, allergic
skin reactions, peeling and blistering of the skin,
non-infectious inflammation of the kidney (interstitial nephritis), fever, muscle weakness (sometimes causing impaired movement).
Very rare side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Electrolyte disturbance leading to an abnormally
depleted level of chloride in the blood (hypochloraemic alkalosis), blockage in the gut (paralytic
ileus).
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated
from the available data):

If you forget to take a dose, take your normal
dose on the following day as usual. Do not take a
double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or
pharmacist. This includes any possible side
effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also
report side effects directly via the Yellow Card
Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By
reporting side effects you can help provide more
information on the safety of this medicine.

It is important to continue to take Olmetec Plus
unless your doctor tells you to stop.
If you have any further questions on the use of
this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects:

4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side
effects, although not everybody gets them.
However, the following two side effects can be
serious:
• Allergic reactions that may affect the whole
body, with swelling of the face, mouth and/or
voice box (larynx) together with itching and rash
may occur rarely. If this happens, stop taking
Olmetec Plus and contact your doctor immediately.
• Olmetec Plus can cause the blood pressure to
fall too low in susceptible individuals or as the
result of an allergic reaction. Light-headedness
or fainting may occur uncommonly. If this happens, stop taking Olmetec Plus, contact your
doctor immediately and lie down flat.
Olmetec Plus is a combination of two active
substances and the following information firstly
gives the other side effects reported so far with the
combination Olmetec Plus (besides those already
mentioned above) and, secondly, those which are
known about for the separate active substances.
These are the other side effects known about
so far with Olmetec Plus:

5. How to store Olmetec Plus
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of
children.
This medicinal product does not require any
special storage conditions.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date
which is stated on the carton and on the blister
strip after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last
day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater
or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to
throw away medicines you no longer use. These
measures will help protect the environment.

Dizziness, weakness, headache, tiredness, chest
pain, swelling of ankles, feet, legs, hands or arms.
Uncommon side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Fluttering of the heartbeat (palpitations), rash,
eczema, vertigo, cough, indigestion, abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle cramps and
muscular pain, pain in joints, arms and legs, back
pain, erection difficulties in men, blood in urine.
Some changes in blood test results have also
been seen uncommonly and include:
Rise in blood fat levels, rise in blood urea or uric
acid, rise in creatinine, rise or decrease in blood
potassium levels, rise in blood calcium levels, rise
in blood sugar, increase in levels of liver function.
Your doctor will know about these from a blood
test and will tell you if you need to do anything.
Rare side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Feeling unwell, disturbances in consciousness,
skin lumps (wheals), acute kidney failure.
Some changes in blood test results have also
been seen in rare cases and include:
Rise in blood urea nitrogen, decrease in haemoglobin and haematocrit values.
Your doctor will know about these from a blood
test and will tell you if you need to do anything.
Further side effects reported with use of
olmesartan medoxomil or hydrochlorothiazide
alone, but not with Olmetec Plus or in a higher
frequency:
Olmesartan medoxomil:
Common side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Bronchitis, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore
throat, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea,
nausea, gastroenteritis, pain in the joints or
bones, back pain, blood in urine, urinary tract
infection, flu-like symptoms, pain.
Some changes in blood test results have also
been seen commonly and include:
Rise in blood fat levels, rise in blood urea or uric
acid, increase in levels of liver and muscle function.
Uncommon side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Quick allergic reactions that may affect the whole
body and may cause breathing problems as well
as a rapid fall of blood pressure that may even
lead to fainting (anaphylactic reactions), swelling
of the face, angina (pain or uncomfortable feeling
in the chest; known as angina pectoris), feeling
unwell, allergic skin rash, itching, exanthema (skin
eruption), skin lumps (wheals).

Problems reading this leaflet?
To listen to or request a copy
of this leaflet in Braille, large
print or audio, please call,
free of charge 0800 198 5000
(UK only)
Please be ready to give the
following information:
Product name: Olmetec Plus
20 mg/12.5 mg Film-Coated
Tablets
Reference number:
PL 08265/0022
This is a service provided by
the Royal National Institute of
Blind People.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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